Extended-range electric van will be made in the UK

Britain is expected to become home to the world’s first mass-produced extended-range electric delivery van with the launch of the Emerald T-001 late next year, Autocar can reveal. Based around a range-extender powertrain, the vehicle combines a 66-mile EV range with the ability to deal with a 1400kg payload arranged on three standard pallets.

The technology opens the way for zero-emissions deliveries in towns and cities to arrive at a time when the annual average mileage of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is growing dramatically due to the significant consumer shift towards internet shopping. Emerald Automotive is owned by Chinese car maker Geely, which also owns Volvo and London Taxi International (LTI). LTI’s new London black cab, the TX5, is based on the same aluminium chassis and powertrain as the T-001 van.

The van and taxi are part of a £250 million investment which should also result in 1000 new jobs being created at a new production facility near Coventry. Both the taxi and van should be rolled out in September next year.

Last autumn, Chinese premier Xi Jinping visited the UK and viewed the final version of the TX5 — the design of which was overseen by ex-Volvo design chief Peter Horbury — with prime minister David Cameron, although no mention of the delivery van derivative was made. It has been revealed, however, that the new factory will have an annual capacity of around 36,000 units per year. With the TX5 facing competition from the new Frazer-Nash electric black cab and sales expected to run at a maximum of 5000 units per year, it would appear that Geely is expecting sales of up to 30,000 delivery vans a year. So far, Emerald has only revealed details of two versions of the van — a short-wheelbase model and a high-roof, longwheelbase variant — but a minibus derivative is also likely.

Emerald Automotive also has a US base in St Louis, Missouri, and is competing for the contract to replace the 170,000 vehicles used by the US Postal Service. Should the bid be successful, the T-001 would become a significant player in the booming global market for LCVs.

Originally developed independently in the UK by Emerald Automotive with help from engineering specialist Ricardo, the T-001 project was bought by Chinese car maker Geely in February 2014, shortly after the Chinese took full control of the ailing LTI. Details about the T-001 are relatively sparse, because the division of Geely that owns the business is privately held and the company is not communicating with the public or press.

However, a single spec sheet released by Emerald shows that the van promises a battery-only range of “over 66 miles” and an additional 342 miles using the four-cylinder engine/generator. It has a top speed of 85mph and can hit 60mph in 8.5sec, aided by its 442lb ft of torque.

It’s possible the T-001 will benefit from ‘live’ powertrain management, with the system acting intelligently by using information on local traffic conditions and road topography to extract maximum efficiency. Emerald also says it expects a five-star Euro NCAP crash test result.

The T-001 uses composite body panels, has a 25kWh battery under the forward floor and the internal combustion engine mounted in the nose. Emerald isn’t saying whether it will use a petrol or diesel engine, although the former is more likely. The rear wheels are driven by the vehicle’s electric motor, which is mounted on the rear axle.

There’s no word on the cost of the T-001 as yet, but Emerald says it will have a lower ‘whole life’ cost than conventional diesel-powered vans. It’s also estimated to have a refuelling cost that’s around 18% of that of a conventional diesel LCV over a typical daily use cycle.

The new vehicle is likely to be welcomed by delivery companies, which are increasingly keen to move away from diesel vehicles because of the growing controversy surrounding urban pollution and service problems such as blocked diesel particulate filters. Urban delivery drivers are also expected to benefit from the gearless transmission and significantly improved powertrain refinement.

Pure electric delivery vehicles have been ruled out by most industry experts, because the weight of a large battery pack reduces the vehicle payload significantly. Range in the colder winter months is also significantly affected on battery-only vehicles.

Does the UK need a clean delivery van?

There are two reasons why the T-001 is almost certain to succeed in the UK. Firstly, the air quality in many cities is well below the standard set by the EU, particularly for the nitrogen oxides and particulates emitted by diesels, especially as they age.

Secondly, the problem with diesel pollution is likely to get worse, not better, as the annual mileages of LCVs continue to boom.

According to government figures, average annual LCV mileages have grown by 16.7% since 2007, while HGV mileages have dropped by 9.7%. Indeed, overall traffic mileage in the UK was, at the end of last September, 0.6% lower than before the 2008- 2009 recession.

Given that LCVs are nearly all diesel, that they account for 47 billion UK vehicle miles (most of it in urban areas) and they are on the road for most of the day, cleaning up LCV pollution must be a priority.

At present there’s only one hybrid commercial vehicle on the global market: a heavily modified separate-chassis pick-up made by VIA in the US. There are also retro-fit hybrid kits for existing LCVs such as the Ford Transit.

As a result, the T-001 will have the market almost to itself, although there could be a smaller delivery vehicle spin-off from the new Frazer-Nash electric taxi. Although the T-001 will be more expensive than a conventional diesel van, government plug-in grants and lower running costs should make it affordable for long-term owners.

The government is trying to restrict the use of older diesel vehicles in Derby, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Southampton, Nottingham and London by 2020. Introducing daily tolls for using such vehicles could push businesses to invest in the T-001.

Actually, a few years ago now 5th Gear did performance test delivery vans. The 0-60 times weren't that spectacular (approx. 12 seconds) The high cruising speeds and road handling that they were capable of, were. If I remember correctly, the fastest one was the VW van. the slowest, the Fiat.
No, if a delivery van driver is on your bumper, or seems to be going like a bat out of hell, the chances are that it's not his or hers vehicle so he (or she) has got no problem thrashing the revs out of the engine and / or he or she is in a bigger rush than you are, and is prepared to drive a lost faster than you!
0-60 in 8.5 seconds? That's electric vehicle performance for you. Think about the clean air instead. You can't have everything.

Actually, a few years ago now 5th Gear did performance test delivery vans. The 0-60 times weren't that spectacular (approx. 12 seconds) The high cruising speeds and road handling that they were capable of, were. If I remember correctly, the fastest one was the VW van. the slowest, the Fiat.
No, if a delivery van driver is on your bumper, or seems to be going like a bat out of hell, the chances are that it's not his or hers vehicle so he (or she) has got no problem thrashing the revs out of the engine and / or he or she is in a bigger rush than you are, and is prepared to drive a lost faster than you!
0-60 in 8.5 seconds? That's electric vehicle performance for you. Think about the clean air instead. You can't have everything.

I know several 'small business' van drivers who have had a remap and revel in showing many other drivers their surprising turn of speed. Also I know some pickup drivers that have done the same.

Yes, The Apprentice, there is that option available and surely people would take up, because turbo petrol and diesel engines can have good power increases with a remap or re chip. Indeed, I remember chipping my diesel Seat Leon to go like stink.

British built, low running costs, high performance, zero emissions. I hope this van is a massive success. The key to its success will be durability and reliability. If it can crack that, it deserves to consign the dirty, foreign built VW's and Transits to history. Good luck to all involved!

Almost all vans are run by businesses, and all they really care about is the bottom line. Get the price and tax breaks right and this will sell really well. The sooner we can get diesel of the streets of our towns and cities the better.